Racer toy



July 14, 1925.

C. H. PAJEAU RACER TOY Filed Jan. 2, 1925 Patented July 14, '1925.

AUNITED STATES PATENT or-FlcI-z.

CHABLIS HAMILTON PAJ'EAU, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB, TO THE TOY TINXEBS, INC., F EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLUOIB.

RACER TOY.

Application med January 2, 1921s. serial lo. 7s.

T o all whom it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES HAMILTON PAJEAU, citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, the county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Racer Toy; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled 10 in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to game apparatus, and in some of its general aspects aims to provide an apparatus whereby one or more movable objects, desirably formed in imitation of animate objects, may be moved along the apparatus at speeds controlled by the skill of the party or parties manipulating the. apparatus.

More particularly, my invention provides .a game apparatus in which movable objects can be moved in either direction by the reciprocation of suitably mounted bars, in which the direction of movement of each of these objects will automatically be reversed when it reaches either end of its travel, and in which a number of such objects can readily be caused to move over a unitary and suitably marked course in simulation of a race between them. It also provides a simple and inexpensive construction of a game apparatus for this purpose in which the movable and apparently racing Iigures (or otherobjects) can readily be removed,

replaced or interchanged; in which the actuating parts of the apparatus are provided with suitable portions for digitally manipulating the same and with means for limiting the extent of their movement, and in which the entire apparatus can be manufactured in a compact and easily assembled form. Still further and also more detailed objects will appear from the following specification and from the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 -is a perspective view of a game apparatus embodying my invention and arranged for the simultaneous movement of two different objects over a common race course by the manipulations of two players. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one end of the same game apparatus, with full lines showing one of the movable figures at that end of its travel and with dotted lines showing the extent of movement of the corresponding and is pivoted to the adjacent manipulating member and the initial tilting of the object by such manipulation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of4 one end of the apparatus, with one of the movable figures partly sectioned, showing this figure in the positions in which it ap pears both before and after it has been reversed as to the direction in which it tilts or leans.

Fig. 4 is a central section taken through one of the movable igures of the a paratus of Fig. 1 in a plane transverse o the apf paratus.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing another construction of a movable figure suitable for use with such a game apparatus namely one formed .of sheet material an arranged to have the actuating bar extend, through a perforation in it. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of still another type of ligure also formed of sheet metal but adapted to have a portion of it bent out of its normal position to permit the ligure to be placed in operative position with respect to the actuating bar, or to be detached from the latter.

In 'the embodiment of Fig. 1, the game apparatus of my invention comprises a base 1 desirably having a horizontal to and" preferably having this top provid with transverse lines 2 indicating distances, which markings desirably include a line 2^ at the middle of the marked course for indieating.r the starting and finish line. Extending above and longitudinally of this marked course and parallel to the base are a pair of 90 actuating bars 3 and 4, each of which is mounted so that it can be reciprocated longitudinaly to a limited extent. For this purpose, am showing each end of the base as carrying a supporting member pivotally connected to a pair of upwardly extending links 5 and 6. Each of these links extends adjacent to one of the actuating) bars 3 or 4 ar, suitable means bein provided for limiting the movement of eac link about the support to which it is pivoted. To elect such a limitation of movement, I am showing each of the Supports as comprising an inverted U-shaped member provided at the lower ends of its Shanks with base portions 7 which are secured to the base, each such member provided at the connections of its shank! 8 to the top 9 of the inverted U-shaped ortion with slots 10 through which the inks and 6 respectively extend. Each of these slots is somewhat longer than the Width of the llink which extends through it,- so as to permit a movement of the link about its pivotal connection 11 to the adjacent upright shank of the support, while also causin the ends of the slot to serve as stops or limiting the extent of the pivotal movement of the link which extends through that slot.

Thus arranged, each of the bars 3 and 4 1s supported parallel to the base and above the latter and is disposed for being reciprocated to a limited extent by a digital manipulation of either the bar or one of the links supporting the latter. To facilitate this digital manipulation, I desirably provide one of the just mentioned members, and preferably. one of the bars, with a handle or inger-plece, such as that shown at 12 in Fig. 1 at one end of each of the said bars.

Moving over the race course as thus marked by the distance lines 2, are a palr of racer objects, each of which is here shown as simulating a human figure and as havmg legs 13 resting on the tog of the base 1, each of the movable figure-o jects being formed so that the adjacent reciprocable bar will normally hold it in a slightly tilted position. With the latter purpose in mind I am here showing each of the movable figures asincluding a body portion 14 provided with a slot 15 which extends upwardly from its bottom so as to divide the lower portion of the body into two parts disposed at opposite sides of one of the reciprocable bars. The distance from the top of this slot to the base line of the legs 13 is somewhat greater than the distance from the top of the base 2 of the apparatus to the top of the corresponding reciprocable bar, thereby causing the figure-object normally to tilt or lean somewhat from the vertical, but desirably limiting the extent of this tilting to a relatively sharp angle. Moreover, the feet or lower ends of the legs are desirably provided with sharp base-engaging formations, uch as the wedge formations shown in the rawings.

With such a figure-object or movable member straddling one of the bars and supported jointly by this bar `and by the base in a tilted position, a movement of that bar in the direction towards which the object leans will cause the object to be drawn substantially for the same distance in the same direction, as the foot of the said figure-object will readily be dragged along the base in that direction. However, a movement of the bar in the other direction will have no such effect, as the feet will catch on the base and will oifer a greater resistance to a sliding movement than that offered by the crotch of the body portion of the figure-object to a sliding of the bar through the latter.

Consequentl a reciprocating movement of the bar, suc as can readily be effected by oscillating the corresponding finger-piece 12, will cause the ligure object to move stepwise in the direction towards which it leans, until it impinges against any suitable stop, such as one of the links 5 or 6. The object can then be moved in the opposite direction if it is irst reversed as to its tilt. To accomplish this change in the tilting automatically, I provide one of the reciprocating parts (namely either the bar or one ofl the links supporting the bar) with a por-l tion disposed for engaging the movable object to exert a blow on it which will move it beyond a vertical plane passing through the feet of the object. For this purpose, I am here showing each of the links 5 and 6 as extended upwardly beyond the corresponding oscillating bar so as to engage a relatively elevated part of the object after the manner shown 1n Fig. 3. Since a comparatively slight tilting of the movable object is suiiicient for effecting the above described stepwise movement of the object in one direction, a relatively slight blow of the upwardly extending end of the adjacent link on this object is sufficient to tip the object over from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 to that shown in dotted lilies in the same ligure. Hence, a continued reciprocation of the reciprocable bar will automatically cause the ligure-obj ect to reverse in tilt whenever it reaches either end of its travel, thus automatically changing the direction in which a continued reciprocation of themcorresponding bar moves this object and thereby causing the object to traverse the course back and forth as many times as may be desired by the player who manipulates this bar. l

With a single base traversed by both movable members, these can readily be startedv from a common starting line, such as the line 2A of the drawings, any desired number of complete laps or traversings of the course can be made, thereby affording an interesting contest between the two players whose skill in manipulating the reciprocating bars will determine the rate ofmovement of the two apparently racing members. Moreover, the game apparatus can be reversed in lposition at any time so as to have the players alternate as to the figures controlled by them, or other racer members can readily be substituted. So also, such a game apparatus can be used as a solitaire diversion by a single player if he uses one hand for manipulating each bar, or a single player can secure interesting diversion by timing himself when causing only one of the racer iigures to traverse the course for a given number of laps.

With two players, the markin on the base will indicate the distance by w ich the more slowly moved racer figure lags behind the winner when the latter reaches the inish line, thereby affording a ready basis for scoring a series of such races.

However, while I have illustrated and described my invention in an embodiment in which each of the reciprocating bars is supported by the two links, in which two slotted riser members each support links pivoted to both bars, in which the handles or iingerpieces are integral with the bars, and in which the tilt-reversing portions of the mechanism are parts of certain links, I do not wish to be limited to these particular details. Obviously, many changes might be made both in the construction and arran ement of the various elements without eparting either from the spirit of my invention or from the appended claims.

For example, Fig. 5 shows another type of racer figure suitable for use with such a game apparatus, namely one formed of a single piece of sheet material and having a perforation 16 through which the corresponding reciprocable bar can extend. Fig. 6 `shovvs a still different racer figure, also formed of sheet material but having a portion 17 adjacent to the bar-housing perforation 16 adapted to be bent out of its normal position (as shown in dotted lines) so as to permit the figure to be slipped over the bar or to be removed without detaching either end of the bar from its pivoting connection, to one of the links which support it.

I claim as my invention 1. In a game apparatus, a base, a bar disposed above the base and parallel thereto and mounted for longitudinal reciprocation, and a. movable member having a pair of legs straddling the bar; the said legs being of greater effective length than the distance from the base to the top of the bar, so as to cause the movable member normally to be tilted.

2. In a game apparatus, a base, a bar disposed above the base and parallell thereto and mounted for longitudinal reciprocation, amovable member having a pair of legs straddling the bar and having their lower ends in engagement With the base, the legs being of somewhat greater effective length than the distance from the base to the top of the bar, the said leg ends having sharp base-engaging portions disposed transversely of the bar.

3. In a game apparatus, a base having a horizontal top provided with transverse distance markings, a pair of horizontal bars supported above and longitudinal of the base and mounted to permit a separate longitudinal reciprocation of each bar, and a pair of bifurcated members respectively straddling the two bars, each of the said members having the lower ends of its forks engaging the top of the base and having these forks suiiiciently longer than the distance between the said top and the upper edge of the adjacent bar so as to cause the member to be normally tilted.

4. In a game apparatus, a base having a horizontal top provided with transverse distance markings, a pair of horizontal bars supported above the base and mounted to permit a separate longitudinal reciprocation of each bar, and a pair of members each having a bifurcated portion straddling one of the bars and having a lower end engaging the said top, each of the said members having the distance between the fork of .its bifurcated portion and the bottom of its lower end greater than that between the said base top and the top of the bar straddled by the bifurcated portion of the said member.

5. In a game apparatus, a base, a pair of substantially upright links, means pivotally connecting each link to the base, means for limiting the movement of the links about their said pivotal connection to the base, a bar connecting the links and extending above the base and parallel to the top of the base, and a movable member slidable upon the bar and having a leg engaging the said top, the leg being of such length that the movable member is normally tilted.

6. A game apparatus as per claim 5, in which the bar has a handle at one end for 1acilitating a digital reciprocation of the 7. In a game apparatus, a base, a bar extending parallel to and above the base, and a movable member slidable upon the bar and supported jointly and in a tilted position by the bar and the base; and bar-supporting means including a pair of risers carried by the base and a pair of parallel links each pivoted at spacedpoints to the bar and one of the risers, one of the links and the riser to which it is pivoted having portions' disposed for engagement to limit the pivotal movement of. the link.

8. A game apparatus as per claim 7, in which one ot the risers has a slot through which the adjacent link extends and in which the end walls of the slot are disposed for engaging the link to limit its pivotal movement. v

9. A game apparatus as per claim if, in which each link has a portion disposed for engaging the movable member to reverse the direction in which the said member is tilted.

10. A game apparatus as per claim 7, in which each link has a portion extending above the bar and disposed for engaging the movable member above the bar to reverse thle lirection in which the said member is ti te y 11. In a game apparatus, a base member, a movable member having a foot portion engaging the base member; and means for moving 'the said member, the said means including as one element a horizontal bar and as another element a link pivoted at vertically spaced points to the base member and to the bar; the movable member having portion resting upon the bar and so spaced from its foot portion that the bar and the base member cooperate in supporting the movable member in a tilted position; one of the said elements having a part disposed for engaging the movable member upon close approach thereof to the said part to rock the movable member about the engagement of its said foot portion with the base member, so as to reverse the direction in which the movable member is tilted.

12. In a game apparatus, a base havin a 'horizontal top, a pair of parallel bars 1sposed parallel to each other above the said top; means carried by the base for supporting the said bars, the said means being ar ranged to permit separate longitudinal re ciprocation of each bar; handles associated respectively with the two lbars and respectively at opposite ends thereof whereby each of two players can digitally reciprocate one of the bars; and a pair of movable members each having a lower end resting on the said base top and having a more elevated portion slidably engaging one of the bars, each of the said members having the spacing be tween its said lower end and more elevated portion so proportioned to the distance between the base top and the bar engaged by that member to cause the bar and the base top to hold the said member in a tilted position.

13. In a game, a base, a bar lextending above and parallel to the base and mounted to permit longitudinal reciprocation of the bar, and a slidable-member having a foot portion engaging the base and an elevated portion resting upon the bar; the distance between the base andthe part of the bar on whichthe said elevated portion rests being less than the distance between the said foot and elevated portions so as to cause the said member to be tilted.

14. In a game, a base, a bar extending above and parallel to the base and mounted to permit longitudinal reciprocation of the bar, and a member straddling the bar and slidable on the bar and having a pair of feet spaced transversely of the bar and both engaging the base, the spacing between the base and the. top of the bar being suieiently less than that between the said feet and the crotch as to cause the said member tov be supported normally in a somewhat tilted position, and means actuated by the reciprocation of the bar for automatically reversing the direction of the tilting whenthe said member reaches either end of its slidable movement on the bar.

15. In a game appliance,a base, a bar disposed above and parallel to the base, means for supporting the bar to permit longitudinal reciprocation of the bar with re, v'speet to the base, and a movable member having a sharpedged foot resting on the base and having an elevated portion engaging the top of the bar, the distance between the bar-engaging part of the said portion and the edge formation on its foot being somewhat greater than the distance between the base and the top of the bar, the movable member having portions engaging the Side of the bar to maintain the said edge forma-- tion transverse of the bar. Y

Signed at Evanston, Illinois, December 19, 1924.

CHARLES HAMILTON PAJ EAU. 

